Heart of Argyll Wi IdLife Organisation
Annual report and financial statements
for the year ended
31 December 2024
Scottish Charity nurnber: SC047167
Simmers & Co
- )uni
OBAN
## **Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation**
|**Contents**||
|---|---|
||**Page**|
|Independent Examiners Report on the Accounts|**1**|
|Trustees Annual report|**2**|
|Report of the Trustees|**3 - 4**|
|Statement of Receipts & Payments|**5**|
|Statement of Balances|**6**|
|Notes to the accounts|**7 - 10**|
## **Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation**
## **Independent examiner’s report on the accounts**
## **Report to the trustees/members of Heart of Wildlife Organisation on the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31 December 2024**
I report on the accounts set out on pages 2 to 10
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) 2005 Act and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The charity trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(d) of the Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s statement**
My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention.
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
- a. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and
- b. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
have not been met, or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Chartered Accountant Independent Examiner Simmers & Co Chartered Accountants Albany Chambers Albany Street Oban**
**26 July 2025**
**Page 1**
## **Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation**
## **Trustees’ Annual report For the year ended 31 December 2024**
The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
## **Reference and Administrative Information**
**Charity name** Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation
**Charity no** SC047167 **Address** Crown House Ford Lochgilphead PH31 8RH
## **Current Trustees**
**Page 2**
## **Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation**
**Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 December 2024**
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
## **Constitution**
The Charity is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (a SCIO). It was registered in its current legal form on 10 February 2017. The Charity was previously an unincorporated association but changed its legal form to a SCIO. The assets of the unincorporated association were transferred to the SCIO on the 10 February 2017. It has a single tier structure and as such the trustees are the members of the charity.
## **Appointment of trustees**
The management committee, which meets 4 times a year, are the Charity’s trustees. Membership of the management committee is open to anybody interested in supporting the aims of the charity.
Trustees are elected at the annual general meeting. There must be a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 9 trustees, of which a maximum of 2 are co-opted.
## **Our Trustees and Volunteers**
We continue to work closely with our Trustees and recognise their commitment and dedication to our organisation. We have had 9 regular volunteers during 2024.
## **Financial review**
In the year, the charity made a deficit on unrestricted funds of £4,004 (2023 surplus £5,826) and a surplus on restricted funds of £33,993 (2023 £11,408). Reserves at the year-end after transfers were £45,617 (2023 £49,621) unrestricted and £47,932 (2023 £13,939) restricted.
## **Reserves policy**
In line with current best practice for charitable organisations we aim to ensure that unexpected costs are met by a proportion of our unreserved funding.
Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation’s activities and associated income are seasonal in nature, peaking between April and October. As a result, a temporary surplus of unreserved income in the autumn goes towards core running costs (such as salaries not paid from restricted grant funding) for the upcoming winter, when income from donations and sales is reduced. The remainder of our unrestricted income can be allocated to our strategic reserve.
When deciding on a reserve we have set the aim of maintaining sufficient level to cover the organisation’s operating costs for 6 months in the instance of an unforeseen downturn in income. This could be due to staff illness, unexpected closure of the visitor centre, adverse weather events or public health restrictions.
The policy aims to ensure the organisation’s financial sustainability and to help explain to members and donors how this is achieved. It also helps us manage resources and shapes the organisation’s fundraising strategy. We will review the policy annually.
**Page 3**
## **Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation**
## **Report of the Trustees (Continued) For the year ended 31 December 2024**
## **Plans for future period**
Our plans for 2025 include
- To identify future unreserved revenue opportunities to increase organisational resilience.
- To identify future sources of core and project funding.
- To extend geographical range of mink elimination project.
- To continue to diversify our educational offering whilst engaging with students at all levels within Argyll and beyond.
- To further develop our STEM offering to encourage greater uptake of environmental science and other science-based subjects.
- To reach out to community groups within Mid-Argyll, particularly those under-represented within the conservation/outdoor recreation spheres.
- To secure the positions of Development Manager and Project Manager into the foreseeable future.
- • To increase engagement and co-operative working with other tourism providers through the local destination marketing group to maximise collective benefits for all concerned.
- To continue to deliver environmental education in collaboration with Sea-wilding and the Argyll Hope Spot.
- To explore the possibility of employing a Finance Officer if appropriate funding can be identified
Signed on behalf of the trustees
**Page 4**
**Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation**
## **Statements of Receipts and Payments For the year ended 31 December 2024**
|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Receipts**
**£**
**£**
Donations
16,880
10,000
Gift Aid Receipts
705
-
Grants
453
58,910
Bankinterest
1,149
-
Membershipfees
334
-
Sale of goods and events
18,386
-
Contract Work
16,762
-
**Total receipts**
54,669
68,910
**Payments**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
Cost of charitable activities
54,363
30,616
Governancecosts
559
-
Purchase of equipment
3,711
4,301
Purchase of building
-
-
**Total payments**
58,674
34,917
Surplus/(deficit) for the year
(4,004)
33,993|**Year**
**ended**
**31/12/24**
**Year**
**ended**
**31/12/23**
**£**
**£**
26,880
12,431
705
3,500
59,363
139,982
1,149
588
334
551
18,386
14,657
16,762
19,156
123,579
190,915
**Year**
**ended**
**31/12/24**
**£**
**Year**
**ended**
**31/12/23**
**£**
84,979
46,434
559
522
8,011
3,228
-
123,467
93,950
173,681
29,989
17,234|
|---|---|
**Page 5**
## **Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation**
## **Statement of Balances For the year 31 December 2024**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
Opening cash at bank and in hand
49,621
13,939
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year
(4,004)
33,993
Closing cash at bank and in hand
45,617
47,932
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
Bankaccount
45,567
47,932
Cash in Hand
50
-
Closing cash at bank and in hand
45,617
47,932|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
63,560
29,989
93,549
**Total**
**2024**
**£**
93,499
50
93,949|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
46,326
17,234|
|---|---|---|
|||63,560|
|||**Total**
**2023**
**£**
63,510
50|
|||63,560|
The accounts were approved by the trustees on 26 July 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
**Page 6**
**Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation**
## **Notes to the accounts For the year 31 December 2024**
## **1. Basis of Accounting**
These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with the Charities & Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (As amended)
## **2. Nature and purpose of funds**
Unrestricted funds are those that may be used at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. The trustees maintain a single unrestricted fund for the day-to-day running of the club.
Restricted funds may only be used for specific purposes. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for specific purposes.
## **3. Related party transactions**
The club’s insurance policy includes Trustee Indemnity Insurance for all its trustees. No other remuneration was paid to the trustees or any connected persons during the year (2023: Nil).
## **4. Donations**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
On site collection and by post
16,880
10,000
**ale of goods and events**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
**Funds**
**£**
Sale of goods, walks, events and survey
work
18,386
-|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
26,880
**Total**
**2024**
**£**
18,386|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
12,431
**Total**
**2023**
**£**
14,657|
|---|---|---|
## **5. Sale of goods and events**
**Page 7**
## **Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation**
## **Notes to the accounts For the year 31 December 2024**
## **6. Grants received**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**Funds**|**Funds**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Easyfundraising|453||453|
|Vegware|-|600|600|
|CraignishTrust|-|3,000|3,000|
|FoundationScotland|-|10,000|10,000|
|Scottish Land Fund|-|10,810|10,810|
|Martin Wills Wildlife Maintenance Trust|-|5,000|5,000|
|Mathew Good Foundation|-|3,500|3,500|
|Hugh Fraser Foundation|-|4,000|4,000|
|NHASMA Scholarship|-|2,000|2,000|
|Swire Charitable Trust|-|19,000|19,000|
|Groundwork|-|1,000|1,000|
||453|58,910|59,363|
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|
||**Funds**|**Funds**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Scottish Land Fund|-|125,382|125,382|
|Vegware|-|600|600|
|BeaverTrust|-|2,000|2,000|
|FoundationScotland|-|10,000|10,000|
|Schroder Charity Trust|-|2,000|2,000|
||-|139,982|139,982|
**Page 8**
## **Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation**
## **Notes to the accounts (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2024**
|**7. Cost of Charitable activities**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**_£_**
**_£_**
Staffcosts
38,142
20,101
Self-employed contractors
8,585
Trainingcosts
380
-
Researchcosts
4,313
-
Purchases
4,596
796
Heat & Light
268
-
Repairs & Maintenance
965
150
Insurance
1,569
810
Professionalfees
440
Officecosts
1,903
6
Advertising
1,044
Travelexpenses
128
168
Sundrycosts
615
-
54,363
30,616
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**_£_**
**_£_**
Staffcosts
6,635
14,666
Self-employed contractors
11,949
-
Trainingcosts
103
-
Researchcosts
320
-
Purchases
4,842
600
Heat & Light
9
-
Repairs & Maintenance
636
-
Insurance
1,953
-
Professionalfees
615
162
Officecosts
1,533
-
Advertising
607
-
Travelexpenses
1,432
-
Sundrycosts
372
-
31,006
15,428|**Total**
**2024**
**_£_**
58,243
8,585
380
4,313
5,392
268
1,115
2,379
440
1,909
1,044
296
615
84,979
**Total**
**2023**
**_£_**
21,301
11,949
103
320
5,442
9
636
1,953
777
1,533
607
1,432
372
46,434|
|---|---|
**Page 9**
## **Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation**
## **Notes to the accounts (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2024**
## **8. Governance costs**
|**overnance costs**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Total**|
||**Funds**|**Funds**|**2024**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Independent examiner’s fee|552|-|552|552|
## **9. Restricted funds**
|**Opening**
**Balance**
**£**
Oyster reintroduction
475
Scottish Land Fund – revenue
4,167
Vegware
-
BeaverTrust
2,000
FoundationScotland
4,167
Mink/ Vole Project HIEF
702
Mink/ Vole Project Craignish Trust
-
Mink/ Vole Project Martin Wills Trust
-
Mink/ Vole Project Mathew Good Foundation
-
Mink/ Vole Project Hugh Fraser Foundation
-
Mink/ Vole Project Swire Charitable Trust
-
Schroder Charity Trust
2,000
AshfieldTrust
428
NHASMA
-
Groundwork
-
Privatedonation
-
13,939|**Income**
**£**
-
10,810
600
10,000
-
3,000
5,000
3,500
4,000
19,000
-
-
2,000
1,000
10,000
68,910|**Costs**
**£**
**Transfers**
**£**
**Closing**
**Balance**
**£**
-
-
475
6,643
-
8,334
600
-
-
38
-
1,962
14,167
-
-
702
-
-
3,000
-
-
5,000
-
-
916
-
2,584
-
-
4,000
3,585
-
15,415
-
-
2,000
266
-
162
-
-
2,000
-
-
1,000
-
-
10,000
34,917
47,932|
|---|---|---|
**Page 10**